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My husband John and I discovered this very deep connection to Malala’s cause for women’s education spurred on by the arrival of our two daughters. She and her extraordinary father agreed to meet with us in London. It’s a train ride away from where they now live in Birmingham in England. So, Malala is the name of a 19th century Afghan freedom fighter. It’s a soft sounding name that certainly packs a punch and how appropriate for the person who bears it. The most compassionate of hearts, but courage and will of steel. Her name is sort of seared into our memories when news broke of the 15-year-old girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban on her school bus after hearing the demand, ‘Which one is Malala?’ And we wanted to know the same, who was she. This girl shot in the head for championing girls’ education. Who was she? She along with her friends on that bus was determined to continue her education no matter the threat. And as schools were bombed and houses were raided, and teachers were killed. She was unbowed and untethered by the intolerable limitations that were placed on her freedom to be in the one place that she wanted to be in school. And when the bullets rained down on these girls, the world stopped in their tracks and they listened to Malala. But most importantly so did millions of girls around the world put in the same position. This courageous eloquent and inspiring girl became their light. There are over 130 million girls missing out on an education. Because they have to work, or they are married by the age of 12 or they lack access to school facilities or have to care for younger siblings. Denying them their fundamental right to an education. And the Malala fund is working tirelessly to ensure 12 years of school until they are 18 for every girl worldwide.

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My husband John and I discovered this / very deep connection / to Malala’s cause for women’s education / spurred on / by the arrival of our two daughters. // She and her extraordinary father / agreed to meet with us in London. // It’s a train ride away / from where they now live in Birmingham / in England. // So, Malala / is the name / of a 19th century Afghan freedom fighter. // It’s a soft sounding name / that certainly packs a punch / and how appropriate for the person who bears it. // The most / compassionate / of hearts, but courage and will / of steel. // Her name / is sort of seared / into our memories when news broke of the 15-year-old girl / who was shot in the head by the Taliban / on her school bus / after hearing the demand, / ‘Which one is Malala?’ // And we wanted to know the same, / who was she. // This girl shot in the head / for championing girls’ education. / Who was she? // She along with her friends on that bus / was determined / to continue her education / no matter the threat. // And as schools were bombed / and houses were raided, / and teachers were killed. // She was unbowed / and untethered / by the intolerable limitations / that were placed on her freedom / to be in the one place that she wanted to be / in school. // And when the bullets / rained down on these girls, / the world stopped in their tracks / and they listened to Malala. // But most importantly / so did millions of girls around the world / put in the same position. // This courageous / eloquent / and inspiring girl / became their light. // There are over 130 / million girls / missing out on an education. // Because they have to work, / or they are married by the age of 12 / or they lack access to school facilities / or have to care for younger siblings. // Denying them / their fundamental right / to an education. // And the Malala fund / is working tirelessly / to ensure 12 years of school until they are 18 / for every girl worldwide. //

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So, from empowering local leaders to shift the old-fashioned mindsets of early marriage in Pakistan and many other countries, creating learning programs for out-of-school married girls in Kenya. They give access to quality education for Syrian refugees, building schools in remote and rural areas. They are girl by girl transforming communities. The potential for socio-economic growth when the other half of the population is given the opportunity to learn and then to work is limitless. Malala knows this and they are seeing it firsthand in the communities they have touched. That if women are given a voice, they are using it. When they are handed the purse strings, the communities thrive. When they are given a job, they flourish. They organize better, they galvanize more passionately, and they are more likely to encourage peace where peace should be the priority. I remember Malala’s father saying something to me that, I will never forget. He said, ‘Too many women die as if they have never been born.’ And I have never forgotten it. And John and I both feel we want to do as much as we can to help ensure that that statement does not hold true in the future. And I know that I will never meet anyone more inspiring than Malala in my lifetime. I mean she’s only the youngest ever Nobel peace prize laureate. I doubt anyone could top her really. She has set such a high bar, but her dream is that there will be others just like her. Because if one girl with an education can change the world, well we just have to imagine what 130 million can do. So, thank you so much. I'm so honored, thank you.

Let's follow Emily Blunt...

So, from empowering local leaders / to shift the old-fashioned / mindsets of early marriage in Pakistan / and many other countries, / creating learning programs / for out-of-school married girls in Kenya. // They give access to quality education for Syrian refugees, / building schools / in remote / and rural areas. // They are girl by girl / transforming communities. // The potential / for socio-economic growth / when the other half / of the population / is given the opportunity / to learn / and then to work / is limitless. // Malala knows this / and they are seeing it / firsthand / in the communities they have touched. // That if women are given a voice, / they are using it. // When they are handed the purse strings, / the communities thrive. // When they are given a job, / they flourish. // They organize better, / they galvanize more passionately, / and they are more likely to encourage peace / where peace should be the priority. // I remember / Malala’s father / saying something to me / that, I will never forget. // He said, / ‘Too many women die / as if they have never been born.’ // And I have never / forgotten it. // And John and I both feel / we want to do as much as we can / to help ensure that that statement / doesn’t hold true / in the future. // And I know / that I will never meet / anyone / more inspiring than Malala / in my lifetime. // I mean she’s only the youngest ever / Nobel peace prize laureate. // I doubt anyone / could top her really. // She has set such a high bar, / but her dream / is that there will be others / just like her. // Because if one girl / with an education can change the world, / well we just have to imagine what 130 million can do. // So, thank you so much. // I’m so honored, / thank you. //